Patent GB-373234-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to motor road vehicles
IPC: B60K5/00
Filed: 1930-11-10
Abstract: 373,234. Motor road vehicles. BURNEY, SIR C. D., 8, Broadway, Westminster. Nov. 10, 1930, Nos. 33824/30 and 25185/31. [Classes 79 (ii), 79 (iii), 79 (iv), and 79 (v).] Relates to rear-engine driven road vehicles of the type described in Specification 320,725, [Class 79 (iii), Motor vehicles, Arrangement &c. of parts of], and comprises an arrangement wherein the engine, clutch, gear-box, and differential, as a longitudinally disposed unit, is located wholly or partly behind the axis of the rear wheels, the drive being transmitted through substantially horizontal articulated half-axles and the bearings or supports for the rear wheels being interconnected by a transverse frame member or axle beam with or without torque members. The framework of the car is preferably of streamline form as described in the prior Specification, a hinged or removable cover at the rear rendering the engine accessible. The engine, which may be a " flat " engine with oppositely disposed cylinders, or a vertical or V-shaped engine, may be disposed mainly or entirely behind the axis of the rear wheels, the gear-box, with or without the clutch, being in front, or the engine may be in front of and the gear-box, with or without the clutch, behind the axis. Stub shafts extending laterally from the differential are detachably connected to the articulated half-axles either by means of the universal joints or by separate flanges and the unit as a whole is detachably secured by bolts or otherwise to transverse frame members so as to be readily dismountable. In the form shown in Fig. 2, the unit comprises a flat engine at the rear with the crank case d<2*> between opposed cylinders d, d<1>, a flywheel housing d<2>, differential d<3>; gear-box d4 and clutch d<5>, the drive from the engine being taken through a hollow worm shaft which drives the differential. The location of the clutch in front of the gear-box facilitates dismounting for examination or repair. The arrangement also enables the clutch control F, F<1> and variable speed control G, G<1> to be taken from the forward driving position without passing over theback axle. If the engine is water-cooled, the radiator may be placed immediately over the front centre portion thereof with a pair of fans driven by belts or chains. With an air-cooled engine, the blower for forcing air over. the cylinder heads may be mounted in the place normally occupied by the radiator of a water-cooled engine. In the form shown in Fig. 4, a vertical engine I is employed and the clutch d<5> is arranged between the flywheel d<2> and the differential d<3>, the gear-box d<4> being in front. The wheels B, connected to the differential stub shafts e by the articulated half-axles e<1>, are carried by torque arms K pivoted between collars on a transverse frame member A3. In the further modification, shown in Fig. 10, the wheels are directly connected by an axle beam O. In both forms, rigid connection is effected to the wheel brackets, in the case of the axle beam, the ends thereof being brazed in sockets in the brackets. The brackets K<4>, Fig. 11, are secured by bolts l to the road springs L and by studs l<1> to the brake torque plates M and wheel-bearing supports N, the articulated half-axles e<1> passing through bearings P. Each wheel hub Q is keyed to the tapered axle end and rotates on a bearing P<1>, the brake drum N<1> and wheel being detachably secured thereto by studs R. The axes of the unit and of the articulated half-axles are in a substantially horizontal plane, keeping the centre of gravity low. The first Provisional Specification describes substantially the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 without the articulated half-axles.